One of the most important steps in losing weight is believing in yourself - believing you can do it.  Attitude plays a big part in losing weight - with the right attitude you will gain the confidence to believe in yourself that you deserve to be slim and healthy.

Achieve the figure you want over a period of time.  Don't be in a hurry, take it slowly.  A good weight loss is between half a pound to two pounds a week.  Don't just have a target weight, have a visual goal too.  Keep thinking of how you've always wanted to look.

Before starting a new diet measure your statistics and keep a note of the figures?  Once the weight starts to come off measure yourself again. You will be surprised at the difference.  Sometimes when you are not losing the pounds you are still trimming off the inches.  Take a before photo and stick it on the fridge or somewhere you can see it.  Look at the picture hard and often.  It is a brilliant incentive.

The most important part of dieting is to enjoy your food.  The best way to do this is to make your food look, taste, and smell good.  This will make it appealing to you on days when your moral or willpower is low and needs a boost.

Try joining a slimming club with a friend or relative.  This will help you overcome any nerves you may have at joining a new club.  Plus, you have the added advantage of pleasant rivalry, where you can encourage and help each other over the good and the not so good weeks to come.  Mix with positive people and ring a pal if you feel you are struggling and need a boost.

If you don't join a slimming club and chose to go it alone, weigh yourself once a week only, on the same set of weighing scales.  This will give you a more accurate weight loss.

Don't wait until you reach your ideal weight before treating yourself to something new.  Trying on new clothes a size smaller is a great boost to your confidence.  Believe me, there is nothing better than suddenly finding you have dropped a complete size or more.  Plus you get a brilliant buzz by being able to spend money on yourself for a change?

Go food shopping on your own.  Give yourself plenty of time to browse around. Check out all the calories on your favourite foods.  Don't be put off by certain foods high in calories.  Allow yourself a treat at least once a week - believe that you are worth it.  If crisps are your favourite snack, have them once a week but try and have the low fat ones.  Don't deprive yourself.

Be as active as you can, try using the stairs instead of lifts when you are out.  Walk where you can instead of taking the car.  If taking the bus get off at the stop before you normally would and walk the rest of the way.  After a while you will be surprised at the healthy burst of energy you now have.

Every week try and do several sessions of formal exercise - ideally 30 minutes five times a week.  If this is not possible try light exercise, gardening or a 15-minute walk around the square.  Fight cravings by exercise workouts at home to a video. It distracts you from getting bored and makes you feel better and healthier

Always read the labels on the food that you buy in the shops as many foods contain additives.  Watching what you eat shouldn't just be about counting calories.  Try and experiment with new ideas and old forgotten recipes.  Find foods with low calories and low fat replacements for some of your favourite foods.

Think of something you want to do in the future where it would be nice to be slimmer.  It could be a holiday, a wedding anything that you can look forward to.  For me it was the Millennium celebrations.

Always keep a track of what you eat.  If you belong to a slimming club they will recommend the best way to record your daily intake.  If you do not attend any clubs keep a daily log of what you eat.  A notebook, a diary or a piece of paper on the fridge - anything that can be written on to record calories used each day.  This is a must for anyone on a diet.